Graduate Students/Post-docs Teaching in Higher Education Conference

[Cynthia Korpan]

Graduate Students/Post-docs Teaching in Higher Education Conference: Empowering the Next Generation of Educators 

When: August 7, 2026, 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time Zone

Where: Zoom

Cost: This is a free virtual event. Registration is required and will be available in June.

Call for Proposals

We are excited to announce the second annual Graduate Students/Post-docs Teaching in Higher Education Conference: Empowering the Next Generation of Educators, a unique virtual gathering dedicated to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are actively engaged in teaching within higher education, either as sessionals/adjuncts or teaching assistants (TA). This conference aims to provide a platform for emerging and early career educators to share innovative teaching practices, explore new pedagogical strategies, and network with peers invested in improving teaching and supporting student learning. The sessions will be organized so that you can engage in topics necessary to fulfill your role as a TA and/or instructor in higher education. It is designed to help you develop and improve your teaching skills and a great opportunity to connect with and share your ideas and experiences with other graduate students/post-docs.

Testimonials from the 2025 Conference:

Due to attending the conference, I will integrate more compassionate teaching practices, such as active listening and flexible accommodations, into my current teaching assistant role; explore co-teaching opportunities to support my transition into a future teaching career; and begin refining my teaching narrative by incorporating reflective insights and student feedback to enhance its authenticity and persuasiveness.

 

From this conference, I learned that the implementation of trauma-informed teaching methods and the imperative to build more inclusive communities in higher education is crucial. This involves incorporating compassion, providing content warnings for sensitive material, and using multi-faceted teaching approaches to accommodate all learners.

 

My big take away from this conference was the critical importance of intentionality when using AI in both research and daily life. This includes understanding both the risks and the beneficial opportunities AI offers to enhance research quality and streamline educational processes.

Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, May 25, 2026, 5 pm Pacific Time

Who Should Submit?

We invite proposals from graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who have experience as a teaching assistant, adjunct, and/or sessional. This is an opportunity to showcase your work, gain valuable feedback, and contribute to the collective knowledge of the higher education community. By submitting a proposal, you will be interacting with 100s of peers.

Proposal Topics

We welcome a wide range of topics related to teaching and learning in higher education, including but not limited to:

• Innovative Teaching Methods: Share your experiences with new and effective teaching strategies.

• Technology Tools Used in Teaching: Explore the integration of digital tools and platforms in teaching.

• Assessment and Evaluation: Discuss methods for assessing student learning and improving feedback.

• Diversity and Inclusion: Present strategies for creating inclusive and equitable learning environments.

• Professional Development: Offer insights into career advancement and skill development for graduate/post doc students.

• Student Learning: Share how you are providing high support to students to advance their learning.

• Health and Wellness for Students: How are you supporting yourself and your students wellbeing so that everyone can thrive?

Proposal Submission Guidelines

Proposal Length: 100-250 words

Format: Include a title and abstract with a description of your session. Ensure the title will grab attendees’ attention. In the abstract, include reference to relevant educational literature.

Session Types:

• interactive workshop (60 minutes)

• oral presentation (30 minutes)

• poster (suitable for those who are in time zones that will make it difficult to attend synchronously on Zoom)

Proposal Submission Process: To submit a proposal, go here.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Current graduate student or postdoctoral student at an institution anywhere in the world (keep in mind though if you are submitting a workshop the conference is synchronous on Zoom taking place during the Pacific time zone)

• Relevance to the conference theme and audience

• Clarity and coherence of the proposal

• Originality and innovation of the topic

• Potential for engaging and interactive sessions on Zoom

Recognition

If you are selected to be a presenter at this conference, you will receive an acknowledgement letter from the conference organizer to include in your teaching portfolio/dossier.

As an attendee, if you attend at least six sessions and submit a reflective one-page essay, you will receive a certificate acknowledging your engagement with enhancing the support you provide to students.

Important Dates

Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, May 25, 2026, 5 pm Pacific Time

Notification of Acceptance: Friday, June 5, 2026

Conference Date: Friday, August 7, 2026, 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time

Certificate Essay Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026, 5 pm Pacific Time

We look forward to receiving your proposals and welcoming you to a vibrant community of graduate students and post-doctoral scholars dedicated to shaping the future of higher education.

Join us in this exciting opportunity to learn, share, and grow together!

Cynthia

GSPTHE Conference Organizer

Cynthia Korpan, PhD (she/her)

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UVic

Former Director of Teaching Excellence, UVic

Award-winning Educational Developer 2017 (EDC) 

Director, ITeach: Certification in Higher Ed Inc. iteachhe.com 

Faculty Member, 2026 Institute for New Educational Developers (INED) 

Secretary and Board Director, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE)

Academics Without Borders Volunteer

Associate Editor, Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CJSoTL)

Committee Member, Graduate Student, Professional Student, and Postdoctoral Scholar Development Special Interest Group (GPPD SIG) (POD)

Latest publications:

Expanding peer observation of teaching and learning through cross-institutional collaboration

Me-search research: The use of a self-study methodological approach to teaching documentation

I acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.